Vacancy Information

Division / Department - Public Protection
Status - Full Time or Happy to Talk Flexible Working
Contract Type - Permanent
Rank - Detective Sergeant
Location - Surrey Police Headquarters, Guildford

In line with the published Posting and Tenure guidance, operational requirements will always be considered prior to confirming posting dates to successful applicants. 

The Role

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a motivated and skilled Detective Sergeant to join Surrey Police’s Sexual Offence Investigation Team (SOIT) based at Surrey Police HQ. SOIT is responsible for investigating serious sexual offences against adult victims across the county of Surrey.

As a Detective Sergeant within SOIT you will play a crucial leadership role by guiding and supporting a team of dedicated investigators and Sexual Offence Liaison Officers (SOLOs).

Your efforts will directly contribute to securing justice for survivors, taking complex cases through to prosecution, and working in close partnership with other agencies to ensure robust safeguarding and harm prevention.

This is a particularly exciting time to join SOIT as we implement Operation Soteria, a national, research-led initiative designed to improve the quality of sexual offence investigations across the criminal justice system. This role offers a unique opportunity to enhance your investigative experience, develop leadership skills, and build a strong foundation for promotion or broader career progression.

Continuous Professional Development (CPD) is strongly encouraged, and you'll be actively involved in shaping our CPD programme by identifying key themes and development areas. Training opportunities include access to internal courses such as SSAIDP and RISDP, along with the chance to collaborate closely with partner organisations and CPS RASSO prosecutors.

You’ll be one of three Detective Sergeants leading an investigative team, reporting directly to a Detective Inspector.

We’re proud of our reputation as a supportive and inclusive department that values flexibility and encourages applications from individuals of all backgrounds. While full-time applicants are welcome, we are also open to considering flexible working arrangements.

Key Responsibilities

You will:

• Lead, support, and develop a team consisting of PIP2-qualified investigators and police staff Sexual Offence Liaison Officers (SOLOs).

• Oversee and manage staff performance in alignment with force-wide objectives and Public Protection priorities, using data-driven insights (CIP) to guide your focus.

• Collaborate effectively with internal teams and external partners across and beyond Surrey Police.

• Ensure staffing levels meet departmental and organisational policies and requirements.

• Identify and pursue relevant lines of enquiry from various evidence or intelligence sources.

• Review and oversee investigations conducted by your team, providing clear guidance, support, and direction, including identifying key lines of enquiry.

• Perform additional duties commensurate with the rank and nature of the role as reasonably required.

Skills & Experience

Essential qualifications

• Accredited PIP Level 2 Detective Sergeant (or Temporary Detective Sergeant underdoing your Work Based Assessment).
• Accredited Tier Level 2 Witness and Suspect Interviewer.

Knowledge, skills and experience

• Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage effectively at all levels.
• Proven capability to lead, motivate, support, and develop a team.
• Demonstrated experience in criminal investigations, including interviewing, case building, and managing complex investigations to a high standard.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise tasks and work independently with minimal supervision.
• Confident and sound investigative decision-maker, capable of exercising professional judgement and clearly justifying decisions.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with internal colleagues and external partners beyond Surrey Police.
• Solid working knowledge of criminal law and the wider criminal justice system.
• Proven track record of meeting deadlines and performing well under pressure.
• Experience managing teams while adapting to shifting priorities and demands.
• Good understanding of the Police & Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) and the Criminal Procedures and Investigations Act (CPIA).

Desirable

• Knowledge of specialist skills such as specialist witness and suspect interviewer, interview manager, DMI and Intel processes are all desirable.
• Successful completion of the RISDP training course. Training will be provided one in post if you haven’t already completed this course.
• Successful completion of the SSAIDP training course and portfolio. Training will be provided once in post if you don’t already have this accreditation.

Contact Details

T/DI Joanna Clarke

joanna.clarke@surrey.police.uk

or

DCI Jon Smithers

jon.smithers@surrey.police.uk

For more information about the transfer process, please email transferees@surrey.pnn.police.uk  

Diversity Statement

We are only as good as our people.  It's important that our officers and staff can be themselves in the workplace and we know that as an organisation we'll grow from the variety of thinking, approach, and the skills that diversity brings; all of which help us to deliver a better policing service. We strive to ensure how we deliver our services, provide information and how we recruit is open and accessible to all.

We have multiple staff support groups who help to improve our understanding of minority issues and ensure they are reflected in our work. We are proud members of Disability Confident, hold Race Equality Matters Trailblazer status, are a signatory of the Race at Work Charter and are aligned with the Armed Forces Covenant and the HeForShe movement.

We are committed to being an anti-racist police service. We promise to challenge injustice, ensure fairness and to uphold anti-racist principles in both our organisation and our communities. For more information, you can read our full anti-racism statement here.

We value the differences that people bring from all backgrounds and communities. Regardless of age, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, disability, social status, or religious belief, we would love to hear from you.

Please use the following links to find out more on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at Surrey Police and Sussex Police

Additional Information

It is really important that you inform and seek support from your line manager of your intention to submit an application for this role as this allows for sufficient resource planning. Failure to inform your line manager may result in a delay in a release dates being agreed.

Following submission of your application you will receive a confirmation email with a copy of your application attached. Occasionally emails from this address can fall into spam/junk folders so please ensure this is checked regularly.  You may wish to consider adding noreply@surreysussexpolice.as.recruitmail.com to your address/contact list to ensure you receive all communications.

Please note that not all jobs are available for internal candidates across both Forces, the current agreed recruitment principles are;

• vacancies in collaborated units are available to all officers and staff across both Forces
• vacancies in non-collaborated units are only available to officers and staff within the Force with the vacancy unless it is advertised externally
• if the vacancy is advertised externally and an officer or member of staff from the other Force is successful it will result in a transfer of employment